MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
The Prince
George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department was notified late
this week that we were awarded a federal grant to hire 18 new firefighters. The Fire/EMS Department has been awarded
$2,589,516 to hire 18 new fire fighters under the Staffing for Adequate Fire
& Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program which was created by Congress to
help address the significant staffing, equipment, training and health and
safety needs of fire departments.
Under SAFER,
fire departments apply for federal grants to help pay the costs associated with
hiring new personnel to maintain safe staffing levels. The importance of
adequate fire department staffing has been well documented by independent
studies. The National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration promulgated standards for the minimum number of fire
fighters needed to respond safely and effectively to emergencies.
Prince
George’s County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor stated, “The ability to hire 18
firefighters through the SAFER Grant will help us improve service delivery and
will increase the safety of our first responders by ensuring adequate staffing
levels. Our Department motto of ‘Safety First so Everyone Goes Home’ is
reinforced by having the ability to hire additional staffing to increase safety
and reduce on the job injuries.”
The eighteen
(18) SAFER grant funded positions are in addition to the 70 firefighters that
will be hired under the FY13 Budget. They will be deployed at the Department’s
busiest stations, will help reduce the number of understaffed responses, and
will decrease the injuries to personnel attributed to understaffing.
Receipt of our
grant award would not be possible if it were not for the hard work of our
partners in the United States Congress. U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben
Cardin and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer and Donna Edwards have always
helped to support and ensure continued funding for these important programs.
Congressman Hoyer, a champion for the fire service and one of the key sponsors
of the SAFER program stated “I’m so delighted that Prince George’s County was
awarded this SAFER grant that will help our Fire Department safely respond to emergencies
and protect our residents. Democrats have consistently fought for investments
in the SAFER grant program, and I remain committed to protecting these critical
funds so that our fire stations have the personnel and resources needed to do
their jobs safely and effectively.”
"I want
to thank Senator Mikulski and all of our Congressional delegation members for
providing this needed funding that will make a significant impact on improving
the public safety of Prince George’s County residents," stated Prince
George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III. "One of the top priorities
of the Prince George’s County government is the safety and security of our
citizens. With this grant, the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department
will be able to increase the quantity of the greatest and most effective public
safety resource they have – the firefighter.”
This is the second SAFER
grant that has been awarded to the Prince George’s County. In 2010, the Fire
and EMS Department received $3,458,682 to hire twenty-four (24) Fire Fighters
and Emergency Medical Providers.
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